One Of The Largest St. Patrick’s Day Festivals In The U.S. Takes Place Each Year In This Tiny Town In Texas
March is here, which means it’s almost time for the luckiest holiday of the year. An appropriately named venue for the festivities, the Route 66 town of Shamrock hosts our state’s official St. Patrick’s Day celebration each year. Wear your brightest shade of green and come celebrate!
1938 marked the very first St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Shamrock. After a brief hiatus due to WWII, the celebration has been held annually since 1952. Six years ago, the Texas House Legislature designated the event as the Official St. Patrick's Day parade for our entire state.
An entire weekend jam-packed with fun attracts thousands year after year. The parade itself takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, and spectators decked out in green from head to toe line every inch of Main Street.
You'll be transported overseas to the Emerald Isle with bagpipe players, a lad 'n lassie pageant, and even a beard contest. Listen to traditional Irish tunes and dance the day away in celebration of this ancient holiday.
Stop by U-Drop Inn at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday to watch the car show. The historic Route 66 motel makes a picture-perfect backdrop for all sorts of vintage makes and models. See how your vehicle stacks up against the rest or just observe from the sidelines as the judges make their calls.
There's also a full carnival complete with food vendors, rides, and games. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and don't close until Sunday evening. Click here for a full schedule of events.
The festival will be held in downtown Shamrock from Thursday, March 14 through Sunday, March 17. Tickets for the carnival and several other activities can be purchased in advance here.
Have you ever celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Shamrock? Do any other cities in Texas partake in the holiday?
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Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
